September 11, 2001
As a New York Metro area resident, I felt the intense weight of one of the most traumatizing events of our time, and came to learn from those I served. They taught me to celebrate hope and rebirth. I worked for 14 years with organizations, schools, families, and professionals directly impacted by the September 11th terrorist attacks, including as a member of the Advisory Board for Families of September 11 (FOS11).
FAMILIES OF SEPTEMBER 11THFamily members of those who died on that tragic day created a new nonprofit organization out of necessity and common cause: Families of September 11. Their courageous mission was to raise awareness about the effects of terrorism and public trauma, and to champion domestic and international policies that prevent, protect against, and respond to terrorist acts.
FOS11 served as a hub for 9/11-related information of particular interest to the family members of those who died, and sought to:
Assure dignified handling of human remains at Ground Zero;
Increase access to the medical examiner's office;
Provide resources to address financial difficulties and access to counseling;
Champion for media constraint in, or at least warning of, depictions of graphic images of victims or destruction caused by the attacks;
Advocate for regulatory and administrative changes to enhance recovery from the Victim's Compensation Fund; and
Support the work of the 9/11 Commission.
FOR ACTION INITIATIVE In 2008, FOS11 embarked on a new project, the For Action Initiative, a collaboration of FOS11, the New Jersey Commission on Holocaust Education, and Liberty Science Center. As a longtime member of the advisory board, I was deeply involved in the development of this educational project. Along with my friend and colleague Mary Ellen Salamone, a former FOS11 board member, we spearheaded the K-12 curriculum, Learning From the Challenges of Our Times: Global Security, Terrorism, and 9/11 in the Classroom, which launched in 2011. It places the events of September 11th in a larger and more meaningful educational context by providing an opportunity for students to learn through age appropriate lessons about the complexities of today’s world. When Families of September 11 decided to sunset in 2012, the curriculum and resources were gifted to the Newseum in Washington, D.C. (link).
PROJECT REBIRTHThe Peabody Award-winning documentary Rebirth (2011) takes us on a profound journey, beginning with one of the deadliest acts of terrorism in history, September 11, 2001. It focuses on the stories of five survivors, following them over ten years through intimate interviews. With striking parallels, we witness healing processes mirroring one another, the renewal and rebirth of five lives, and the rebuilding of sixteen acres at Ground Zero. The film portrays a full spectrum of emotions as shock, grief, anger, and confusion evolve into hope, connection, purpose, and renewal.
As part of Project Rebirth's mission, the documentary is an educational tool for professionals, students, and first responders. While it is difficult to come face-to-face with another's loss and deepest pain, viewing a film allows us to explore and talk about issues in a way that no other medium can – visually bringing us into the lives and experiences of others, and allowing us to witness history. As Director of Education for the project, I knew this film would have a significant role in helping the public and professionals better understand healing after trauma, loss, and grief. We developed educational outreach and programming, facilitated screening discussions, and wrote film viewing guides and other educational materials. Teaching points were created from the film's transcript and supported by literature from the trauma, loss, and resilience fields. Today, Rebirth can be seen at the 9/11 Museum in New York City. Films, discussion guides, and other educational materials are housed at the Georgetown University Digital Library.
RELATED ARTICLESGaffney, D. & Koster, E. (2016) Learning from the Challenges of Our Times: Families of September 11 and Liberty Science Center. In E. Gokcigdem (Ed.) Fostering Empathy in Museums. New York: Rowman & Littlefield. (link)
Gaffney, D. (2008) Families, Schools and Disaster: The mental health consequences of catastrophic events. Journal of Family and Community health. 31(1). January-March. 44-53. (link)
Gaffney, D. (2006) The Aftermath of Disaster: Children in Crisis. Journal of Clinical Psychology/ In Session. 62, 8. 1001-1016. (link)
Gaffney, D., Dunne-Maxim, K, Cernak, M. (2002) Science Centers as Sanctuary. Journal of Museum Education. Association of Science-Technology Centers, Washington, DC. (link)